How To Use Song Covers To Promote Music?

There have been times when the covers of songs became more popular than the originals. Song covers provide you an opportunity to showcase your talent by adding your own unique variations and twists to the original. As independent musicians, you could utilize cover songs to market your artist persona as well as promote your music effectively.

In this article, we will be answering these questions:

1. What is the purpose of a cover song?
   
   
2. Why are song covers so popular?
   
   
3. How to make a cover song?
   
   
4. How to promote your music with cover songs?
   
   
5. Are cover songs copyright-free?
   
   
6. Can cover songs be monetized on YouTube?
   
   
7. Can we upload cover songs on Spotify?

What is the purpose of a cover song?

Before we answer that question, let us first understand what a cover song is. A cover song is basically a reproduction of an original track, a rendition of a song that was made first by another artist. A remix is not the same as a cover song, because in a remix, you usually manipulate the individual components of the track, such as the bassline, instrumental melodies, and so on. But with the cover songs, most of the originality is retained, but there is an addition of your own style while singing the song. 

The purpose of covering a song could be anything from pure love for the original track, where you pay some sort of tribute to the artist, or it could be to monitor and enhance your own musical abilities through practice. However, we believe that cover songs aren’t just limited to that. Song covers can also be used as a promotional tool to draw attention to your capabilities and talents, as you’d gain the attention of the ardent followers and fans of those original tracks. 

Pssst…come here: Think of it as an attempt that will showcase your musical sincerity as well as your unique styles and interpretations of the track. Cover songs don’t have to be perfect and they aren’t meant to be sung as well as the original artist has, rather they are meant to be made yours, by adding your own touch to it. 

Why are song covers so popular?

You must have actively searched for covers of your favorite tracks at least once in your life because you’d simply wanted to hear a new voice. Some of us end up finding the original after we have listened to the famous covers that go viral! Why is that so?

Song covers have the potential to storm the internet and make influential waves because they give music lovers and listeners a fresh take on familiar songs. And novelty, doesn’t die, does it? Cover songs allow musicians to expand their creativity because they have to maintain the originality of the melodies but still make them sound new - a challenge that demands brainstorming. This makes it appealing to both listeners who loved the original and newer audiences who have probably never heard that song before (and yes, that is possible). 

Pssst…come here: People, time and again, go back to the originals, which is human nature. However, we are all wired to find different ways to connect to music, and cover songs provide that opportunity for artists to create those ways, not only to expand their music reach but also as an honest appreciation of the song itself. 

Let’s not forget one of the most used emotions in making music - nostalgia. Cover songs act as a time capsule and if you do them right, and strike a chord then gaining more listeners and reaching an audience for your original music wouldn’t seem so hard. 

With the advent of AI cover songs taking over the internet with mixed opinions, it become crucial for all musicians to cover songs to stand a chance in the market. AI can only do so much, and we know that - which is why musicians like you should take a chance and give your voice the stage it deserves. 

How to make a cover song?

The first step in making a cover song is selecting a good original track. You’d definitely go for something that’s a classic or popular, like Careless Whispers by Goerge Michael. It makes sense because it is such a timeless track and the audience for it is huge. But imagine the pressure. Yup. 

What we recommend is scouring the internet, your Spotify radio, YouTube, and so on to find artists that are new and are growing steadily. Pick the most popular tracks of these artists and try to cover them. Listen to the song intently and repeatedly to fully understand what makes it so popular and likable. 

Once you have discerned what makes the track so special, you have got the answer for - what should I NOT change? Eventually, you will also find elements or moments that you think you’d want to add to, in terms of enhancing the lyrical expression or an instrumental bridge you’d want to add effects for. 

Play around and experiment with the song. You could add intros, outros, or segments as needed; particular melodic sections may work well for transferring the listener from one section to another of the track. You could also experiment with genres and transcend the melodies to a totally different atmosphere. 

Pssst…come here: Always listen to your instincts. You cannot predict if a sound is truly working unless you test it. Sometimes there can be a huge difference between the sounds that play in your mind and the tone of it on the chords, so don't skip out on exploring the viability of your thoughts. A desire to try new things and a commitment to that experimenting will eventually result in a composition that represents your objective for a song.

Always find ways to personalize the track. Listeners of cover songs are aware that there will and should be some amount of the cover artist’s personality and it depends on how you bring that in your take. Get feedback on your arrangement, from friends and family and even colleagues or acquaintances who are working in the music industry. Encourage them to explain how the design influences how they feel and if they believe it captures the essence of the original. This will give you a fair idea about audience expectations of a song cover. Filter out the most important or impactful constructive criticism and improve your cover by incorporating the suggestions. You could also upload short covers on YouTube, and demos of sorts to see how your followers are reacting to the content. Remember that you should also feel content and satisfied by the end of the creation and if you truly believe that you have achieved that, then you are pretty much good to go. 

How to promote your music with cover songs?

You can promote your song covers along with your original music promotion. Promoting your music with cover songs entails using multiple channels and techniques to attract a larger audience. It involves promoting the cover on social media, communicating with your fanbase, working alongside other artists, and increasing your discoverability and visibility through streaming music services and online forums.

Not only is making song covers a great promotional tool for independent musicians, but it is time and again done by already-established artists that only make the original get more reach. Take Joshua of Seventeen, for instance. Seventeen is a prevalent K-pop music band that has more than a million views on every one of their music videos and more than 2 million active listeners on Spotify. Joshua, one of the members of the band, covered Double Take by Dhruv, and the cover song video instantly went viral on YouTube, making netizens streaming the latest releases of the band as well as the original song. 

The most viral track on TikTok and Instagram at the moment, 10 Minutes, by Lee Hyori was originally released in 2003! What really blew the internet was TWICE, a K-pop girl band’s cover song video that was posted a couple of months ago. As the track became increasingly popular, another solo idol and actor, Cha Eun Woo covered the song, tweaking the lyrics to suit the male perspective on all his shows during his tour. 

These are just a couple examples of instances where song covers did the job of an effective online music promotion strategy - getting the music artist expanded visibility. 

Record High-Quality Audio and Video

Do not take making these covers lightly. Get quality recording devices to ensure that your cover sounds professional. Also, make visually engaging videos that go with your covers. To increase engagement, record yourself performing the cover and produce a lyric video or a music video. Explore interactive components in your videos to engage your audience uniquely. This could involve intriguing notes, accessible links, or immersive 360-degree visuals that allow users to dive into the cover song’s setting. 

Pssst…come here: Consider the genre of the original song and the variations in the environment you have created in your cover song. If you have taken an acoustic song and added dream pop elements to it, then make sure your visuals complement the song cover. You can also focus on storytelling through your visuals as well. 

Advertise on Social Media

Post your cover songs on a frequent basis to keep your audience involved and engaged. Use Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok for posting teasers, behind-the-scenes videos, and announcements about your cover songs. 

Social media is the ideal place to make and post short covers of famous tracks to get engagement and follow quickly, especially acoustic ones. Short-form content works the best because it gives the viewer a hint of your musicality and leaves them wanting more, which is when you can engage in full-fledged covers and redirect them to your YouTube channel. 

Reply to your followers’ comments, messages, and mentions on social media. Interacting with your audience demonstrates that you appreciate their loyalty and fosters a sense of connection around your music. Use cross-promotional strategies to reach a broader audience. Partner with other musicians or influencers in your genre to promote each other's cover tracks on social media. This can help introduce your musical works to new listeners who may be interested in your genre.

Are cover songs copyright-free?

No, cover songs are not copyright-free. But you CAN post them on different streaming platforms. 

To lawfully cover a song, musicians must secure all relevant rights or permissions. This often entails acquiring a mechanical license for reproducing and disseminating the song, as well as possible sync licensing if making visual content such as music videos is involved.

In some jurisdictions, such as the United States, there is a mandatory mechanical licensing provision that permits musicians to cover a song without obtaining specific permission from the copyright holder. Nevertheless, some requirements have to be satisfied, such as giving notice and paying royalties to the original copyright holder. It goes without saying that you must investigate to learn the exact requirements and constraints imposed by accreditation authorities in your area.

On the other hand, you will have to get a mechanical license to upload the song via distribution services on different streaming platforms. This authorization is commonly secured through the Harry Fox Agency (HFA) in the United States, which represents the vast majority of music publishers. The license often requires an official mechanical royalty rate for each unit sold or streamed.

Pssst…come here: A remix is different from a cover and the procedure to release a remix is different too. Check out the important differences in obtaining a license to release a remix and a cover song respectively in your area. 

Can cover songs be monetized on YouTube?

Yes, cover songs can be monetized on YouTube, you CAN earn an extra income via song covers. The monetization occurs through the YouTube Content ID system or by receiving permission from the original copyright holder. When a cover song is uploaded to YouTube, the Content ID system recognizes the original music and enables the copyright holder to monetize the video by placing advertisements on it. The cash earned by these advertisements is then split between the owner of the copyright (often the original songwriter or publisher) and the musician covering the song, you, according to the terms of your contract.

Can we upload cover songs on Spotify?

Yes, you can upload cover songs on Spotify given that you have obtained all the mechanical licenses mentioned earlier to release it on streaming platforms like Spotify. Not only Spotify, but all other streaming platforms usually require the distributors of the cover song to use a service that handles all the licensing on the distributor’s behalf. Spotify may request confirmation of licensing before allowing cover music to be uploaded and shared on their platform. It is done to guarantee that all music offered on Spotify adheres to copyright regulations and that all necessary rights and licenses are secured from its original owners of the copyright.

Song covers could be a great way to keep your online presence steady and growing as well as showcase your multifaceted talent, especially if you are attempting a genre of music that’s not your comfort zone or is simply deemed difficult. Focus on making an honest effort in covering a song, and make sure your work is out there for people to come across. 

We at GreaseRelease, have a bunch of curators on our network who are looking for new & exciting music to push on their massive playlists. If you make music and want to reach a wider audience, check out our submission platform and get a chance to reach millions of listeners! Submit your tracks now!

 

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